Teachers Sign Up For Free Firearms Training

BACK TO SCHOOL: In Colorado, Republicans have moved to give school districts greater latitude in permitting firearms on school grounds

DENVER–Colorado teachers are going back to class for firearms training, joining thousands of educators across the nation even as Democratic lawmakers move to restrict access to guns.

The Rocky Mountain Gun Owners reports being inundated with responses after offering a free course for teachers interesting in earning their concealed-carry certification in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre.

“Last week we announced a special FREE concealed carry certification class for K-12 teachers and staff members on January 28,” said the RMGO in a Monday post on its Facebook page. “The response has been overwhelming!”

The group is asking donors to sponsor teachers in order to cover course-related expenses. The cost of sponsoring one teacher is $25.

“We believe strongly in the rights of citizens’ self-defense . . . especially in our schools in these trying times,” says the RMGO fundraising plea. “We have to change the law to make that a reality. However, in the meantime we want to train as many teachers and school employees how to defend themselves, their students and their schools as we possibly can.”

Reports of teachers heading to firing ranges are cropping up in a number of states, including Florida, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. An NBC News story from Katy, Texas, showed a firearms instructor asking how many of the roughly 50 people taking the course were teachers; about half raised their hands.

Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called last week for state funding to offer specialized training for teachers and administrators on handling firearms in the event of an active shooter situation on campus. He proposed having school districts nominate employees interested in receiving the training.

In Colorado, Republicans have moved to give school districts greater latitude in permitting firearms on school grounds. Senate Bill 9 would authorize school districts to allow employees with concealed-carry permits to bring their handguns to campus.

The bill, sponsored by Sens. Ted Harvey, Scott Renfroe and Lori Saine, is pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Meanwhile, House Democrats have filed bill titles on banning concealed-carry on campus, assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, but so far no legislation has been introduced, according to RMGO.

Gov. John Hickenlooper said in last week’s State of the State address that he wanted to see more extensive background checks and an overhaul of the state’s mental-health system.

“Let’s examine our laws and make the changes needed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” Hickenlooper said.

Comments made by visitors are not representative of The Colorado Observer staff.

11 Responses to Teachers Sign Up For Free Firearms Training

DilloTank

January 16, 2013 at 3:51 pm

Allowing teaching to carry firearms in schools will probably virtually eliminate mass shootings in schools. Almost all mass shootings are committed in places where the perpetrators know that no one will be armed i.e. ‘gun free zones.

I would never allow a child to attend a school where guns were housed. It is a matter of time before a child gets his hands on a firearm or there is some other unfortunate accident. More guns is not the answer and arming teachers is patently ridiculous. Even armed professional peace officers had no impact on Columbine. It is not difficult to post outside professional guards and require ID cards to enter a locked building. Keeping a school safe from intruders is not rocket science – but it does require common sense.

Owning and carrying a hand gun comes with great responsibility…as does owning and using a car……eventually a child will get access to a car….. I never advocate a careless approach to such a serious situation as this. However just locking the doors is not the answer either….cars or schools. A well trained and responsible teacher will never let the kids have access to the gun just as you never let them have access to your car before they are ready. In terms of percentage, there are more deaths from car crashes than suicide, violence or war every year.

James your theory is flawed. The Newtown shooters mother was trained and licensed yet stupid enough to leave her guns attainable to her nutjob son. Fail! You put way to much faith in the intelligence of gun owners.

The entire gun debate is based on the false premise that the 2nd Amendment grants the people the right to keep and bear arms. IT DOES NOT! The Constitution affirms that these rights are given by God and that governments, not just our government but any government, may not infringe upon our God given right to keep and bear arms. Confusion on this subject comes from the fact that government schools no longer educate our children about the Constitution or God given rights, and by the fact that the Constitution does grant some rights that are not God given (e.g., 5th and 6th amendments). These distinctions are not insignificant; they are fundamental. An inalienable right cannot be surrendered or taken away. Even if someone wants to surrender their God given rights, they cannot. No government and no group of men, can take away God given rights. When people incorrectly frame the argument in terms of Constitutional rights, the do violence to both the Constitution and to God.

Everyday, my wife, who is a public school teacher and my five kids go off to the “gun free zones”, where their only real defense is that, statistically, nothing SHOULD happen. If it does, like in Sandy Hook, everyone in the building is defenseless. Those who would deny them the basic right of self defense are selfish and ignorant. They have NO idea about guns,owning guns or responsible gun owners. They continue to put forth all of the unfounded potential complications of responsible adults carrying in school. When that courageous principle at Sandy Hook walked out to confront that murderer, I wish that she could have been armed with more than bravery. But, the “enlightened” among us decided that she could not, even if she wanted. For their PEACE OF MIND, she worked in a “gun free zone”.